digg

Facebook Connect Join Digg About

Countdown to 4G Networks: Who’s Doing What, and When

gigaom.com — for those reading about the promise of 4G networks such as LTE or mobile WiMAX, here’s a look at each carrier’s launch plans and when (or if) you can expect to see up to 100 Mbps down on your mobile network.

Who dugg this? Made popular Aug 15, 2008

Digg DudeWhat is Digg?

Digg is a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. Digg surfaces the best stuff as submitted and voted on by the community. Take the Tour to learn more.

77 Comments

show profanity settings
expand all
  • jnordb, on 08/15/2008, -1/+26You mean, here it comes again.
  • leerayIG88, on 08/15/2008, -2/+20It's the FINAL COUNTDOWN!
  • inactive, on 08/15/2008, -3/+20Here come the $600 iPhone people
  • dickeytk, on 08/14/2008, -1/+174G just sounds ridiculously expensive the way things are going with that sort of thing
  • Niz1, on 08/15/2008, -1/+16yeahh how about we get 3G in full swing with better coverage before we move on?

    This was posted wayyyy too early
  • phore, on 08/15/2008, -0/+10I'm holding out for 5G
  • Vectorkov, on 08/15/2008, -0/+10Its not just about cell phones... Mobile WiMAX will be able to give you fast broadband wireless connections on your laptop or PC
  • sfdude00, on 08/15/2008, -3/+114G will make easier to watch porn on cell phone..
  • ClassicResort, on 08/15/2008, -1/+9wtf?
  • brenthals, on 08/15/2008, -0/+6"But, ours goes to 11G"
  • ihavebeenseen, on 08/15/2008, -0/+5It is not just about Latops or PCs. With 100 Mb connection IPTV becomes possible over that wireless 4G connection.
  • illman00, on 08/15/2008, -1/+5Yes days after buying the spectrum they already had the multi-billion dollar infrastructure just sitting around hoping they would win
  • lordtyros, on 08/15/2008, -0/+4laughable? It's pretty damn speedy if you ask me. What AT&T really needs to work on is their coverage. There's no reason for me to be able to get Spring 3G in *****, Iowa and not even get a hint of AT&T 3G.
  • Paranoidmarvin, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3Who's betting that Europe will be at least 2 years ahead, and Asia 2 years ahead still?
  • Justin6512, on 08/15/2008, -0/+34G? I just hope that we can get all of our Canadian cell networks to GSM first before they start to make 4G phones! That's right we're still rocking the CDMA technology here in Canada!
  • endlessoul, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZkllM8znx4
  • benologist, on 08/14/2008, -4/+7I can't wait for my cell phone to have significantly faster internet than my computer.
  • DamnMan, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3Man you guys have no idea. I did the whole "Can you hear me now" gig. IE testing 3G network coverage for a major 3G carrier(how are those 3G iPhones working out?) 'cleaning' up bad coverage spots often fell on us in the front line. Bad coverage area? OK just drive the van REALLY fast past the area and maybe we won't get a drop. Or let me time the testing so we are between calls in the bad spot. the speed limit is 75 on this highway? don't do over 40 because we are passing between nodes to fast. The reports are based on percentages, so lets just leave the tests running here with direct line of sight to the tower and go in to 7-11 and get a slurpee.
  • IveDefected, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3Sprint had better redeem itself after pulling that 5GB cap *****.
  • ziggy88, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3looks like it! Now if they can also get that ***** ass UI off the phones with the 4g network.
  • tcpip4lyfe, on 08/16/2008, -0/+2***** off. I live in *****, Iowa.
  • ihavebeenseen, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2It should get cheaper as the 4G technologies use spectrum more efficiently
  • uberfu, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2By the time AT&T gets arond to deplying it's 4G network - the 5G technology is already going to be out_ Is AT&T simply planning to lag behind the technology by one generation for the rest of eternity?
  • inactive, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2WiMax is the open standard among those two and will supposedly will be cheaper. Although, most communication equipment manufacturers and service providers support LTE, which is closed and proprietary and more expensive as a result. But unfortunately, 80% of the wireless communication industry seems to support LTE, so I guess cheap, universal, wireless broadband internet access will just remain a pipe dream :(, unless some magic happens and WiMax storms the industry.

    Reference:
    http://gigaom.com/2008/03/05/a-little-4g-sibling-r ...
  • ryleyleckie, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2you must work for a CDMA carrier. all of my CDMA carrier sales friends spin the same b.s.
  • inactive, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2WiMax is very similar to cell towers.
  • tomz17, on 08/15/2008, -1/+3Article skips the fact that the only carrier that currently has what I would call a mature 3G rollout is Verizon Wireless.... and even its coverage is fairly spotty outside major metropolitan areas (falling back to 1xrtt)

    Sprint is easily a distant second (w/ the help of some good roaming agreements), AT&T 3G coverage is a joke, and Tmobile 3G is virtually nonexistant (IIRC, they just recently launched pilot programs in select locations).

    Disclaimer : I have and frequently use Verizon EVDO, AND AT&T 3G.
  • qber, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2So let's see what smokeymirror dugg as 'cooler'?

    http://digg.com/apple/Coming_in_September_Better_3 ...
  • Ducttape38, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2AT&T's strategy makes sense. More than half of the country isn't even blanketed with 3g right now. Why would they move on LTE before utilizing their current technology as best as they can?
  • Vectorkov, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1I didn't. Just google "WiMAX and 700Mhz' and you'll see what I was talking about.
  • inactive, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1Too bad it will cost 5 Gs
  • ozid, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1My Verizon phone has terrible 3g Coverage. Great 1xrtt, but I never have 3g. Even in Huntington Beach sometimes. Out in the desert, I still have sprint EVDO, when I actually have service.

    I like Sprint's network. It works better most of the time unless I'm in an obscure area.
  • inactive, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1more like half generation, but yes that seems to be their goal.
  • Vectorkov, on 08/15/2008, -1/+2The spectrum will be used for broadband wireless, including WiMAX and other competing technologies
  • Vectorkov, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1It will be for computers as well. See Mobile Wimax
  • Stephenishere, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1What are the estimated speeds on 4g? Whats better WiMax or LTE tech? I thought WiMax was more like laptop network cards kind of thing, or is WiMax just another type for cell phones?
  • iamvahe, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1I'd love to see the battery life on 4G phones. iPhone already struggles with just 3G. Hopefully, we'll get some new battery technology to go along with 4G.
  • tullj01, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1I'd be happy just to have 3g where I live, oh, and a battery that lasts more then an hour.
  • linuxisbest, on 10/30/2008, -0/+1you left out cox communications LTE target of 2010 on the 700mhz broadband spectrum with full convergence
  • inactive, on 08/16/2008, -0/+1oh *****. 80's guidos
  • ryleyleckie, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1you should be sorry.
  • vtbutterworth, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1WiMAX is shipping out this September in Baltimore, with advertised speeds of 2-4 Mbps Down, and about 512k up. Depending on your site and device, you might also see speeds up to 13 Mbps Down, and 3 Mbps Up. Most likely you won't see this, but it is possible.

    As for what WiMAX is, it is a service that can eventually be implemented into a cell phone, but for the first few years the products will be primarily laptop network cards and a stationary modem.
  • inactive, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1before you think about upgrading your current 2 line monochrome LCD cellphone?
  • inactive, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1I agree with your charge more part, but not with the "not really needed" part. There will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be need for more speed.
  • vtbutterworth, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1As for what's better, it really depends. LTE will be faster, but it also has two more years for development. I remember a Motorola RAN guy saying that 60-70% of the work they have done for WiMAX is the same for LTE. They are both very similar technologies. What LTE is going to have is better MIMO capabilities through more time in R and D, which is where some of the speed difference is going to come from.

    So basically, if what you want is speed now, get WiMAX. If you want the absolute fastest even if you have to wait for 2 years, wait for LTE. If you want ok speed and and decent coverage, try 3G.
  • inactive, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1And this?
    http://digg.com/linux_unix/10_Essential_Linux_Appl ...
  • inactive, on 08/16/2008, -0/+1iPhone people cost money?
  • elTito, on 08/16/2008, -0/+1I'd prefer they say ***** it with 3G and use the money to get 4G up and running faster.

    But that's just me.
  • vtbutterworth, on 08/16/2008, -0/+1That's experimental, and will never be used commercially. Trust me, I've been working on WiMAX this entire summer. I have memorized basically the entire CAPL for Sprint/Clearwire's WiMAX. You can probably see my past comments trying to pimp this technology out.

    Also, please read some white papers on any kind of broadband wireless around the 700 mhz spectrum. That piece of spectrum should NEVER be used for broadband. It's a horrible piece of spectrum due to the cell sites footprint being WAY too large, too expensive to use, and the channels would have to be smaller due to the costs.
  • Justin6512, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1well yeah I'm well aware that Rogers/Fido is GSM but there are no competitors that are GSM. The fact of the matter is is that we still have phone companies using CDMA!
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 77 of 77 discussions

  • Add a Comment

    Login or register to comment!
    Or, sign-in super fast with your Facebook account ...

© Digg Inc. 2009 — Content created and posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain | Terms of Use Updated | Privacy Policy
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.